Over the 11 days of the festival, San Antonio police arrested 373 individuals for driving while intoxicated. Bexar County already has a 24-7 no-refusal policy in place. The Texas Department of Transportation approved funding to bring in more officers for the duration of Fiesta, which likely contributed to the significant increase in DWIs from years past. TxDOT also sold $20 cab vouchers to festival-goers who didn’t have a designated driver.

This year, Fiesta San Antonio brought almost 700,000 people to San Antonio. Because of the success of this year’s and last year’s initiatives, it is likely that the city will continue to enforce aggressive DWI policies and reach out to anti-drunk driving community partners in years to come. 

If you have been arrested for DWI, you should contact the McMinn Law Firm’s DWI lawyers today. 

In April 2010, Cerda was involved in a head-on collision with a fellow UTSA student, Gerardo Razo. He collected $2.7 million in damages after breaking both arms and both legs in the crash.

Previous to the most recent arrest, Cerda used lotion to take off her ankle monitor. She had been at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center after she was released from jail for her initial arrest. Although her lawyer claimed that the monitor was simply malfunctioning, she was required to return to jail without bail until her court date.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car wreck due to negligence, we can help you pursue your case. Contact The McMinn Law Firm today.

Several cities and states have placed more restrictions on cell phone usage while driving in recent years as the number of distracted driving accidents climb. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently encouraged states to enact a cell phone use bans. Most states have already placed restrictions on phone use for younger drivers.

 Chapel Hill’s restrictions include multiple exceptions: an individual can make and answer calls if they are speaking to police, an emergency rescue team, a hospital, a doctor’s office, a parent, a child, a legal guardian, or a spouse. Hopefully Chapel Hill’s ban will drastically reduce instances of distracted driving and serve as an example for other communities.

Contact McMinn Law Firm if you or your loved one has been the victim of a distracted driver accident, so we can help you get the justice you deserve.

The pursuit ended a few blocks away, where Colunga crashed his car and attempted to run away. Perez tackled him to the ground and tied him up with a belt. When the police arrived, Colunga was arrested and charged with two counts of failing to stop and render aid and one count of intoxication assault.

Many Austinites are praising Perez as a “Good Samaritan” for making sure Colunga was held accountable for his actions. Earlier this week, the victims rights non-profit Crime Victims First honored Perez for his bravery. The woman who suffered the worst injuries, Kylie Doniak, is in stable condition now but is still in the hospital.

Recently, pedestrian accidents in Austin have skyrocketed; only last week, two pedestrians were hit near the UT campus. If you have been the victim of a pedestrian accident or hit-and-run, Jason and Justin McMinn are dedicated to advocating on your behalf. Contact the McMinn Law Firm today.

Dik van Meerten, a 61-year-old, was pronounced dead at an Austin-area hospital. Van Meerten was born in the Netherlands and lived and worked in Charlotte, N.C. for an IT management company. He was visiting Austin just for the weekend to see his children and friends. His daughter, Sylvia van Meerten said her father was the family’s focal point—a kind, generous, wise man with a huge laugh who had a strong worldwide network of friends and family.

Sarah Lee Parker suffered critical injuries and fractured her jaw, shoulder and leg. Her ear was torn off and surgically reattached.The police stated that when questioned after the crash, Linda Dianne Woodman, 59, was heavily medicated with morphine and Percolet having just been released from the hospital. She is now in the Travis County Jail on a $55,000 bail. She was charged with intoxicated manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and intoxication assault, a third-degree felony. Woodman had a previous driving while intoxicated charge on Oct. 4, 2009, and was sentenced to a year of probation and counseling.

Because of health information privacy laws, information can’t be released about her discharge on Sunday from Seton Healthcare Family. The hospital did state that policies are in place to ensure that patients have a safe way to get home, if they are not to drive for a period of time. Over 300 pedestrians were victims of traffic fatalities in 2009 in Texas. Pedestrian fatalities account for 11% of motor vehicle deaths. If you or your family member was a victim of an intoxicated driver, or a traffic fatality, contact McMinn Law Firm today to get the justice you deserve.

To make the recommendation, the NTSB analyzed data regarding distracted driving and cell phone usage. More than 3000 individuals died last year as a result of distracted driving, including a particularly devastating pile-up in Missouri that resulted in two deaths and 38 injuries. However, despite the NTSB recommendation, many states are hesitant to adopt a complete ban on cell phone use while driving.

Austin has taken several steps to reduce incidences of distracted driving, including banning texting while driving. Additionally, all cell phone use is banned in school zones. There are very few limitations, however, on making calls or other forms of cell phone usage while driving. Almost 100 car crashes in Austin per year are caused by using a cell phone while driving. If you have been involved in an accident caused by cell phone use or distracted driving, contact the McMinn Law Firm today.

The startling number of pedestrian deaths has prompted the Austin Police Department to take measures to promote pedestrian safety, including the formation of the Pedestrian Enforcement Safety Team (PEST). Texas is one of the top ten states for pedestrian fatalities, and Austin alone has experienced 20 pedestrian deaths in 2011. As a result of the most recent deaths, dozens of individuals gathered to rally for further pedestrian protection efforts. As a result, the Austin city council agreed to investigate the area of the crash and develop measures to make Austin safer for pedestrians.

Austin is a walkable city, and many residents choose to walk or bike instead of driving. The APD recommends that pedestrians walk on sidewalks when possible, cross at intersections, and wear bright colors at night. If you have been the victim of a pedestrian accident, contact the McMinn Law Firm today.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the statistics along with their annual report on drivers’ behaviors. The report found that a significant number of drivers were engaging in activities during driving that were distracting and possibly dangerous, including answering and making calls, sending and reading text messages, and using the Internet. Young adults are the most likely to be distracted by their phones while driving.

Distracted driving is the cause of about one-tenth of auto crash fatalities, which amounts to over 3000 deaths. If a distracted driver has caused a car accident that injured you or a loved one, contact McMinn Law Firm today.

According to DPS officials, commercial vehicles are responsible for 15 percent of Texas crash fatalities and they believe the program has already saved countless lives.

Statistics:

- 331,505 inspections performed by the Highway Patrol

- 66,189 commercial vehicles removed for safety violations

- 12,301 drivers removed for safety, license violations

Accidents involving commercial vehicles often result in fatalities or severe injuries due to their size and weight. If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact the McMinn Law Firm for a free case review.